Saturday, February 8, 2014
EPIPHANY (AH HA!) MOMENTS = FAMILY FUNCTIONS
How is your family about getting together? My family and extended family is pretty good about gathering together regularly, even though many are at a distance. My immediate family, both on my parent's side and my wife's parents' side, try to get together a bit at least once a year. And my extended family with uncles, aunts, and cousins (over a hundred people), try for every other year. But no matter the group or setting, whether a reunion, Christmas or Thanksgiving, or an evening meal, you usually notice when a family member isn't there, don't you? Especially in our own homes, you know and can feel that part of your family is missing when there is an empty chair.
I think it is rather interesting that one of the ways we refer to Holy Communion is "The Lord’s Table." On the one hand, it is easy to use this picture to show how our Savior has prepared us a meal that will spiritually nourish, strengthen, and bless us tremendously! Even though we, even as Jesus' family members, are rude, disobedient, unfaithful, and often doubtful of His wisdom and love, He invites His repentant brothers and sisters to His Holy Supper to miraculously receive His own body and blood as a receipt of His payment for sin. A receipt that says Jesus Christ is the perfect and innocent Passover Lamb of God for the whole world, who has paid our debt in full!
On the other hand, "The Lord's Table" is a grand reminder of the greatest intimacy believers can have together at Christ's table which He has prepared. The Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians of this in his first letter to them when he said, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (10:16-17). Our "communion" (or fellowship, participation) at the Lord's Table is that common union we have through faith in Christ's words. The cup of wine we drink is in union with the blood of Christ. The bread we eat is in union with the body of Christ. These promises Christ gives I do not fully understand, but I rejoice in His promises both tasted and seen in the remission of sins!
It is such a blessing to view Holy Communion as the Lord's Table. Jesus has "prepared a table for me" to receive these blessings and to profess and proclaim what He has done for a sinner like me. In trusting these communion mysteries at the Lord's Table, it's a great comfort when my fellow brothers and sisters, trusting in His words, are present at our Lord's Supper.
